Holder or press for tennis rackets and similar articles



` S. W. HOLMES. HOLDER 0H PRESS FOR TENNIS RACKETS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

APPLICATION VFILED APR. 9, 192%..

,437,3'78, Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

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` l 17 3 70 I] ,.S. WHULMES lfatented Nov., 28 i922,

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STANLEY "TESTCOT' HOLMES, OF SAN DEGO, GLIFRNIJ..

Application tiled. april 9, 1921.

T @ZZ 'whom it may concern Be it known that l, STANLEY lll. HOLMES,

a citizen ot the United States, residing` at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful improvements in a Holder or Press for Tennis Raclrets and Similar Articles; and l do hereby declare the tollowing` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which ity appertains to make and use the same. y

rlhe present invention relates to clamps or presses for holding the frames oi' racirets (such as are used in playing lawn or court tennis, or similar implements) rigid and shape when not in use, as when stored away or being transported, so as to `prevent warpin p; of the frames under the tension ot the strings, dampness, or the like.

lt is the object or the invention to provide a clamp ot that lrind which is exceedingly simple and ceinpact, which will be disposed snugly against the opposite sides of the traine or head of the racket, within the outline thereof, and which will enable the racket with the clamp thereon to be inserted within the usual cover or glove without hindrance, and which will also serve its purpose of holding` the traine rigidly in shape.

rlhe racket clamps usually used are rather clumsy, inasmuch as they occupy more or less space at the opposite sides of theframe and beyond the margin of the frame, so that such clamps must be used on the eX- terior of the cover or glove, making it rather awkward to carry or pack, whereas a racket with the presentclamp applied can be read- 40 ily packed, and several of them conveniently placed within a suit case or trunk, without the possibility of injury to other contents.

A further object is the provision of such a clamp having clampinfi,` plates of novel form to bear against the opposite sides of the racket frame, and novel means for drawing said plates toward one another, whereby to clamp the frame, and providing a simple, light and compact device which lis convenient and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the descrip tion proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinatter described and claimed, it beineunderstood that changes can be made within Serial No. 460.9541.,

the scope of what is claimed, without departing` from the spirit or" the invention rThe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing', whereiny Figure l is plan view of the clamp as applied to the trame of a tennis racket, the handle being' broken away.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

The clamp comprises a pair of opposite side plates for clamping` the frame F ot the racket between them, and the plates are preferably constructed orp suitable wood, or other rigid and preferably light material. The plate comprises the parallel transverse bars fr at its opposite ends, the longitudinal parallel connecting); bars 5 havingtheir ends united with the bars fl'- at points spaced 'from the ends et said bars 4t, and a cross piece or bar 6 disposed transversely between the bars a and united with the bars 5. These bars or pieces 4,, 5 and 6 are flat and in the same plane., and the bars i are cut away, as at 7, at those sides which are Vdisposed against the frame, and at the ends of said bars which overlap the trarne, as shown, whereby the side plates are partiallyl received within the tennis racket traine, as seen in Fig. 2. The ends ot the bars et are also cut obliquely and bevelled ofi', as at 8, so as to terminate within the outline of the racket iframe, and prevent said ends from cutting,q into other objects and enabling the racket and clamp to be readily inserted into the cover or glove.

ln order to secure the clamping plates tog-ether on the trame of the racket, a tubular threaded nut or socket 9 is anchored within each bar et of one plate, between the ends of said bar, said soclret or nut havingjr a liange l0 embedded in the bar 4e, as shown in Fig. 2. These sockets or nuts 9 project from the correspondine clamping plate, and can be readily inserted between the strings S without the possibility of injuring such strings. Screws ll are carried by the other plate, and said screws are swivelled through pieces 12 ot metal secured, by means of screws 13. or the like, to the bars fiof the corresponding` plate between the ends of said bars, so that said screws register with the nuts 9 when the plates are placed on the raclretin proper position. rlhe screws 11 have heads 14e ot minimum height bearing on the pieces 12, and the screws are retained in place by means of pins 15 engaging through said screws under the pieces 12, Finger pieces 16, ot bail shape as shown, are pivotally connected with the heads le whereby they can be swung' to a position at an angle with the clamp7 for conveniently rotating' the screws.r and can loe swungI against the corresponding plato, as shown, so as to occupy very little space en the side ot the clamp. rllhe bars et- Which have the screws ll are provided 'with recesses 1'? tor receiving` the nuts 9 when the clamping plates more together suiiiciently.

ln using' the clamp, the side plate which has the nuts 9 is lirst placed against the side of the racket, and the nuts 9 inserted lz-etn'een the strings. rhe other plate is then placed against the opposite side of the traine, and the serews ll will readily enter the nuts 9, Without contacting' With the strings. Then.y by rotating' the screws to screw them into the nuts 9, the opposite clamping' plates are drawn together at their opposite ends and the iframe o't the racket will be clamped tightly at four points between the ends of the bars e, thereby rigidly holding' the Ytraine, and preventing warping' thereof. rllhe clamp is so compact that it Lief/,37e

can be inserted with the racket in the usual cover or case and has other advantages as hereinbefore pointed out.

Having` thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A racket press comprising` opposite clamping plates having' transverse end bars and longitudinal bars connecting' them, the end bars having their terminals projecting and adapted to ,tit against and overlap the opposite sides of the racket trame, and means for connecting said 'plates interinodia'te the ends oit said end bars, each oie said means including' a. nut secured to one plate and projecting therefrom to pass between the strings of the racket and a screw swivelled Atoi' rotation in the other plate to enter the nut and draw the plates toward one another.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing` Witnesses.

STANLEY WESTCTT HOLMES.

lWitnesses: y

S. O. PUTNAM, S. E. BEGKWITH. 

